The Carnival Band Gets Political (again)

Posted on by darryl

Happy Summer Everyone!


Well, it may not be solstice yet, but the sun sure is shining. Before that big day, there are a few happenings we thought you should know about.


Saturday, May 23rd: The Great Turning: an Unconference to Be The Change

Come down to the Maritime Labour Centre, 1880 Trimph St (Victoria north of Hastings) for this great gathering of movers and shakers, featuring over 30 passionate community leaders and change agents. The daytime events run from 9:30 – 5:30 and cost $55 for advance tickets including lunch. The dinner, 5:30 – 7:30, is only $11 extra and is followed by an afterparty with Tribal Harmonix. This is a seriously all-star lineup with some of the Carnival Band’s favorite organizations, including Car Free Vancouver, the WorkLess Party, Wilderness Comittee, PIVOT Legal, B.E.S.T, Check Your Head, Purple Thistle, Vancouver Public Space Network, and even Eco Granny Betty Krawczyk. Lots more information at http://www.bethechangeearthalliance.org/

Saturday, May 30th: The 35th Annual Camp Alexandra Festival

This is Crescent Beach’s most anticipated event of the year, with live performances and scores of crafters all day long. Admission is free all day. The Family Fun Zone runs alongside artists of all stripes and refreshments from 11am to 6pm. At 6pm, The Carnival Band comes on to start up the evening stage, featuring Jesse Burch, Heidi McCurdy and Mojo Zydeco. Come for a beach picnic, stay for some great entertainment until at least 10pm. More info at http://www.campalex.com/sub/events.php#festival

Wednesday, June 3rd: Heart of a Citizen: A Public Dialogue Series on Civic Engagement

SFU is hosting a series which “explores the diverse and provocative ways ordinary citizens become extraordinary participants in democratic life.” We thought that sounded pretty good, so the Carnival Band will be performing at the third dialogue, titled “Celebrating Citizen Engagement: How do community festivals and the arts engage citizens and create social change?”. The Open Air Orchestra Society president, Brandon Walker, will be speaking at the dialogue following the band’s performance. Meet at the Wosk Centre for Dialogue, Asia Pacific Hall, 580 West Hastings Street, 6:30–8:30pm. The sessions are free, but because space is limited it’s a good idea to register online ahead of time. More info at http://www.sfu.ca/dialogue/heartofacitizen.pdf

Saturday, June 6th: Work Less Party Party with Five Alarm Funk!

After all that work to shape the world, what better way to have a bit of fun than with the Work Less Party? This shindig is shaping up to be one of their best yet, with Five Alarm Funk, Orkestar Slivovica, and the Carnival Band all rocking the stage. As always, you’ll have ample opportunity to get wild with the kinka booth and frisky tent. A body painting competition and costume competition are shelling out $1000 in prizes! $15 if you arrive in costume, and $20 without (why would you ever go to this party out of costume?). Advance tickets are $2 less. Doors at 8pm, mayhem from 9pm – late. Go to http://www.worklessparty.org/party/party.htm for more info.

Its a Carnie Kinda Weekend

Posted on by darryl

Come celebrate the start of Spring by gettin’ out and gettin’ down with the Carnival Band. Boy Howdy do we have an action packed weekend.

5:00pm Friday, 15 May 2009: Strathcona Zero Waste Project 701 Keefer St
A great, green cause – a team of people have pledged to not throw anything away for an entire month. Come join us at MacLean Park, 701 Keefer Street this Friday at 5:00pm to learn what you can do to reduce your waste and impact. The Carnival Band will be there in fine form honkin’ away.

8:30am Saturday, 16 May 2009: Trout Lake Farmers Market
What better way to celebrate spring than chowin’ down on fresh local produce. Fresh food a festive atmosphere, the forecast calls for sun so bring your shades! The Trout Lake Farmers’ Market, 15th Avenue & Victoria Drive, blends urban with rural and provides fresh food for all us city dwellers. Join the Carnival Band in celebrating good food and good company.

1:00pm Sunday, 17 May 2009: DRUMstong
Drumstrong is a world wide fundraiser for cancer research. The event features a 5 hour uninterrupted drum circle whose participants are accepting pledges for cancer research. The Vancouver event will feature an number of special guests who will jump into the circle and jam along. Come for the whole event, and catch the Carnival Band at 1:00pm 12:00pm – 5:00pm Sunday at Ryerson United Church 2195 West 45th Ave.

Stone Soup!

Posted on by darryl

Carnival Dancers!, originally uploaded by the13thfairy.

The sunniest I’ve seen for Britannia’s Stone Soup festival. The soup was hot, the tostadas were fabulous, spirits were high and the band was out in force: probably at least twenty-five showed up in fabulous carnival attire to jump, honk, and thump our gratitude for the community centre that so generously hosts our weekly workshops. One of Britannia’s Directors sought us out after our set to thank us for bringing the spirit of the day.

Stone Soup

Posted on by darryl

Hello Carnival Band Fans,

Come join the Carnival Band and scores of other great community organizations for Stone Soup at Britannia Community Centre (Commercial and Napier) this Saturday, May 9th. This fabulously family friendly festival runs from noon to 5pm, with the Carnival Band starting off the fun with a parade and stage show from noon to 1pm. Look out for our purple, green and gold costumes and some hot moves by the Carnival Dancers! More info here:
http://vancouver.ca/parks/cc/britannia/website/programs/artsculture.html

*** The Legend***

Once upon a time, some travelers came to a village during a great famine, asking questions as if they wished to stay the night. After having been told that there was no food and they’d be wise to move on, they announced that they intended to cook stone soup for everyone. The travelers filled their pot with water, and ceremoniously dropped a large stone in it, placing it over a fire in
the village square.

By now, hearing the rumor of food, most of the villagers had come to the square or watched from their windows. As the travelers sniffed the “broth” and licked their lips in anticipation, hunger began to overcome their skepticism.

“Ahh,” one traveler said to himself rather loudly, “I do like a tasty stone soup. Of course, stone soup with cabbage — that’s hard to beat.”

Soon a villager approached hesitantly, holding a cabbage he’d retrieved from its hiding place, and added it to the pot. “Capital!” cried the traveler. “You know, I once had stone soup with cabbage and a bit of salt beef as well, and it was fit for a king.” The village butcher managed to find some salt beef … and so it went, through potatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms, and so on, until there was indeed a delicious meal for all.

The villagers offered the travelers a great deal of money for the magic stone, but they refused to sell and traveled on the next day. The moral is that by working together, with everyone contributing what they can, a greater good is achieved.

Honk if you HONK!

Posted on by darryl

More cowbell!, originally uploaded by the13thfairy.

An epic border lineup defeated our best plans to arrive in time for the festival opening (and Gregg Moore’s fabulous “Hawaii 5-0” workshop), but we pulled it together in classic Carnival Band style, with the group forming, growing and changing from one set to the next.
Wild dancing, fabulous guest percussionists, a joint set with the Yellow Hat Band, and a couple of impromptu jams in local businesses (Carnival Band in a barbershop? More pics later!), and that was all before 10pm.

The Carnival Band goes to HONK!

Posted on by darryl

Over Easter weekend, the Carnival band will be participating in the second annual HONK! Fest West in Seattle, Washington. It’s a gathering of 16 activist street bands from around the United States, many of whom are as crazy about having a good time in public space as the Carnies. The Ballard and Georgetown neighborhoods will overflow with horns, drums, and cheer. Go to here for all the details, or here for an inspirational discourse about the HONK! movement.

Brass & Burlesque, Homelessness & Holidays

Posted on by darryl

Here’s a final reminder for the Party for HONK! show this Friday. Slide on down to see what we’re up to the rest of the weekend.

Who: D. B. Buxton, Orkestar Slivovica, Girls on Top Risque Cabaret, Carnival Dancers, The Carnival Band, and you!

When: Friday, April 3rd. Doors at 9pm, show starts at 10, dance ’till 2 in the morning.

Where: The Fairview Pub (on Broadway between Oak and Cambie)

Why: ‘Cause it’s spring, the kiddies are getting out of school, and it’s a great time to party. For those social advocates out there, it’s also to help send us to the HONK! International Street Band Festival in Seattle next weekend.

There are only a few advance tickets left, so move quick! About 75 spots have been left as door sales, so don’t be afraid to bring your buddies. Cover is $10 advance, $12 at the door.

Then on Saturday: Help us support the Grand March for Housing. The Carnival Band is leading two of the three parades which all convene at the Vancouver art gallery around 1:30pm. Meet us at the peace flame park (south end of the Burrard bridge) or Thorton Park (between Main Street Skytrain Station and the VIA Rail terminal) at noon to join in the mobile action. This event is being organized by the Citywide Housing Coalition, who are fighting to establish a permanent national housing program funded by all levels of government, as well as increases in minimum wage and welfare rates. Go to www.citywidehousingcoaliti

on.org/ for more information.

On Sunday, the Carnival Band is supporting one of the most well known forces in improving the conditions of the downtown east side: the St. James Anglican Church. This local procession for Palm Sunday will gather many of the local residents in a day of celebration. Feel free to join us and the powerful social wellness advocates of St. James as we seek to bring light to this too often troubled community.